The Rundown for October 3, 2019

TRUMP REPORTEDLY USED PENCE TO PRESSURE UKRAINE… The Washington Post reported yesterday that President Trump repeatedly used Vice President Mike Pence to pressure Ukraine into launching a corruption investigation into Joe Biden and his son. Trump reportedly had Pence inform Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the U.S. would use military aid as collateral. Pence met with Zelensky during a diplomatic trip on September 1.

BERNIE SANDERS UNDERGOES HEART PROCEDURE… Questions surround Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign as he is reported to be resting comfortably in a Las Vegas hospital, where he was treated for an artery blockage. The 78-year-old Vermont senator was taken to the hospital on Tuesday night after experiencing chest pains and has canceled campaign events until further notice. He was scheduled to hold a town hall yesterday and appear at a gun safety forum.

SCHIFF WARNS POMPEO NOT TO IMPEDE TESTIMONY… House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff warned Secretary of State Mike Pompeo yesterday not to stop diplomatic officials from testifying before congressional committees. Schiff said at a press conference that “We are deeply concerned about Secretary Pompeo’s effort now to potentially interfere with witnesses whose testimony is needed before our committee, many of whom are mentioned in the whistleblower complaint.” On Tuesday, Pompeo accused Congress of bullying and intimidation in resisting the House’s efforts to depose State Department officials.

AMBER GUYGER GETS 10-YEAR SENTENCE… Former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday for the fatal shooting of an unarmed man in his apartment last year. The sentence was less than half of the 28-year prison term prosecutors had suggested. Guyger was convicted of murder for shooting and killing 26-year-old Botham Jean in his apartment on September 6, 2018. She claimed she mistook Jean’s apartment for her own and thought he was a burglar.

MARKETS TUMBLE… Stock markets took another tumble yesterday and the Dow Jones Industrial Average now has dropped more than 800 points over the past two days. All three indexes experienced their worst single-day drops since August 23.The Dow was down 494 points, or 1.86 percent, at the end of trading, while the S&P 500 fell 1.79 percent and the Nasdaq Composite slid 1.56 percent. The decline came the day after a report by the Institute for Supply Management revealed that U.S. manufacturing activity fell to its lowest level in more than a decade.

ENTERTAINMENTTHREE INDICTED IN MAC MILLER DEATH… Three men were indicted yesterday in connection with the death of rapper-producer Mac Miller. The 26-year-old Miller was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles home last September after he overdosed on counterfeit painkillers. The three men were charged with conspiring to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.

GARTH BROOKS TO BE HONORED WITH GERSHWIN PRIZE… The Library of Congress announced yesterday that it will honor Garth Brooks with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in March 2020. Brooks is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. His hits include “Friends in Low Places,” “The Thunder Rolls” and “The Dance.” At 57, he will be the youngest recipient of the award. Previous recipients include Tony Bennett, Paul Simon, Carole King and Willie Nelson.

SPORTS MLBAL WILD-CARD GAME…Tampa Bay 5 – OAKLAND 1… Yandy Diaz led off the tops of the first and third innings with home runs to help power the Rays past the Athletics in the American League Wild-Card game. Avisail Garcia homered with a runner aboard and Tommy Pham added a solo shot for Tampa Bay. Charlie Morton allowed just an unearned run on five hits over five innings Three relievers shut down Oakland the rest of the way. The Rays advance to take on the Astros in the AL Division Series beginning tomorrow in Houston.